PHOTOS: DIANNE CARROLL BURDICK
ArtPrize Seven kicked off its seventh year this week, with a beautiful day, a promising first weekend and record breaking numbers. When it’s ArtPrize season, Grand Rapids shines in all of her glory.
Our television friends have set up camp in their downtown venues, broadcasting live for our big little city. The city is alive with people. Restaurants are full. Streets are busy. There are food trucks. Live music. Familiar faces.
Parking is atrocious. Many are hitting The Rapid. Way to go, Grand Rapids!
Even the locals who seem “anti-ArtPrize” are quieter this year. Why? My observation is, strictly made through monitoring social media feeds, this year is presenting some seriously substantial art. There are noticeably less dragons and giant like creatures. There aren’t controversial pieces. It’s even rumored that even the BOB’s parking lot is devoid of it too — and the locals are missing it.
Has this new ArtPrize occurred because of the implementation of the Juried Grand Prize? Is this now two competitions now that both the Public Vote and the Juried Grand Prize award $200,000? or is it that the public voters’ view of “what’s considered art” has changed? It’s hard to say so early in to the competition, but it’s super fun to watch ArtPrize grow up.
SF photographers, Dianne Carroll Burdick was out and about on opening day. Here are some shots she captured and shared with us.
GALLERY
